I am new with LPL and seem to be overwhelmed with our outdated technology. How do those of us from Jones replace what we were used to via Contact Management? Currently I am using Outlook until I can decided which version to use. I need guidance on Portfolio Reviews regarding tech, I am using Portfolio Manager and Portfolio Review tool and both are really "behind the times".

Also, where can we consolidate our stocks and bond research. I am using S&P but still cannot get any recommendations for new companies or stocks ideas.. This may be an issue for me and where I functioned for 7 years at Jones.. some of my clients are programmed to holding a few Individual stock positions when a "good idea comes up". I need a desktop or manner of easily accessing this information and the ability to have some stocks ideas... Is there any hope or do I need to change my approach all together?

1. Contact Management

2. Reviews, which tech is the best for us at LPL

3. Stocks recommendations, i.e. buy, hold, sell

Any help is appreciated. I am a HYBRID so I can also function via RIA on Swabb, TD, Fidelity etc... Maybe some of the information I am lacking could be located on these websites??

If you are looking to find a program or platform that gives you advise regarding individual stock recommendations or ideas you might want to not offer that as part of your practice or just use a third party manager. That is like a doctor looking for someone else to diagnose their patients if they do not know how to do their job themselves.

While I can appreciate your stance. I can assure you I do know how to do my job. Not sure if that is what you were implying but that is the way I took it. I am looking for advice not a schoolmarm. I currently used Zachs, S&P and Thompson but am looking for a dashboard of sorts to "port" all in the information into one place... Do you have any experience with that? If not, is there someone on this forum that could add to my thoughts?

Try vector vest. There market timing strategy has saved my rear through this financial mess. They also give buy sell and hold recomendations on 8300 stocks.

I am looking to go indy and I think that the technology is way better than jones. I think redtail kicks butt for CRM and emoney blows away jones FAST. As for a Portfolio equall, that has not been discovered..

Good luck on your recent move. I was with EJ, but did not have the patience to wait out there for 7 years. I'll speak to the company recommendations issue.

Jones made it easy for you, everythng was predigested. But I would argue at the cost of never hearing a contrarian viewpoint. If you really want to add value for your clients, and distinguish yourself from the mass of rr's out there, try using Seeking Alpha. Type in a symbol, find all the recent postings on the company, and READ THEM ALL. Consider the source of the postings, and make your own judgement as to the quality of the recommendation. It is more work - but now you'll really be earning your keep. I was always very disappointed with the lack of insight and real under the cover research done by Jones. They were more interested in covering their fiduciary backsides than in really making any real qualitative calls. Hence their fiasco with Lehman Brothers bonds and many others. Any researcher worth is salt would have known how overleveraged the company was. But all Jones (and other big brokerages - I don't want to just pick on Jones) did was to look at the Moody's listings.

There are obviously many stock recommendation sources. You need to determine what type best suits your clients and what you believe in, i.e. fundamental or technical or a combination of the two . Several have been suggested so far. I personally use IBD as one of my resources and have found it to be one of the best sources of good stock ideas. I also use Dorsey Wright extensively for both stock ideas and general market direction. After 28 years in the business, the majority of that time in a wirehouse, I have very little use for fundamental analysts. They are useful for EPS estimates but that's about all in my opinion. I found I do a much better job with what I've mentioned.

As far as CRM, there are a number of good ones as you no doubt know. I will be migrating to Salesforce.com shortly. LPL has an enterprise agreement with them and currently there is some information (account values) fed through to Salesforce. I learned today that there will be a number of signifcant changes coming between now and July or possibly August with regard to both Branchnet and Salesforce. There is a LPL group on LinkedIn with some of the details on this provided by a LPL SVP who is involved.

I recently discontinued my subscription to PRT and am using only Portfolio Manager as I think it does the better job for client reviews and performance tracking. There are a number of other tools I have found available on some of the provider websites like iShares, First Trust, Blackrock, etc. that can be helpful in evaluating client portfolio holdings.